Colombia will reinforce security on the border with Venezuela after attack against soldiers

(CNN Spanish) – Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano announced on Monday that the border with Venezuela will be reinforced with an additional 300 military personnel who will guard the illegal crossing points.

In a press conference from Bogotá, he said that the presence of the National Navy on the Arauca River was reinforced to carry out controls. On the other hand, he reported that 90 Marines arrived “a couple of months ago” in the area and another 90 will be displaced in November.

This Saturday, Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano, through the Ministry’s Twitter account, condemned the attack that occurred in the municipality of Arauquita in the department of Arauca, where 5 soldiers died and 6 others were injured.

“This morning’s terrorist and cowardly act against our soldiers in Arauca … Soldiers who were on a mission to protect the pipeline. Condolences to their families, all the support for them,” said Molano.

Five Colombian soldiers died and six others were injured after being attacked early Saturday in the municipality of Arauquita in the department of Arauca in northeastern Colombia.

The military was on a mission to protect an oil pipeline, Colombian Minister Diego Molano reported in a video statement.

Molano described the attack as a “terrorist and cowardly act” and blamed the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

In a tweet published on Saturday, Colombian President Ivan Duque condemned the attack. “We are hurt by the murder and injury of several of our heroes,” he wrote.

Duque also reported that he ordered the Army Commander, General Eduardo Zapateiro, to move to the area to attend to the situation.

“These cowardly acts are the product of despair in the face of military pressure. For the memory of our heroes, we will continue attacking narco-terrorism and dismantling its structures, ”Duque assured in a second tweet.